Peter Killcommons's Schools

• City College of New York, New York Medical College , Class of 1984 MD in Medicine

Peter Killcommons's Publications

• The City College of New York, Peter Killcommons's Blog on BigSight February, 2011 Peter Killcommons graduated in 1984 from the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, the medical school of the City College of New York. The School’s BS-MD program, which Peter Killcommons completed, allows students to combine their undergraduate education and their initial two years of medical school into a single five-year curriculum. After receiving their Bachelor of Science from City College, students in this program go on to complete two more years of medical studies through one of six participating schools, including Peter Killcommons’ alma mater New York Medical College. Other participating institutions are SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, and Albany Medical College. All of the medical colleges associated with this program have received full accreditation from the American Medical Association and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the Association of American Medical Colleges. While completing the accelerated BS-MD program, Peter Killcommons took advantage of a small community dedicated to individual excellence. The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education maintains a small faculty consisting of 35 full-time members. Each of these professors supports students in a variety of ways, taking on the role of advisor, direct instructor, and research leader. Many of these faculty members stand at the forefront of their respective fields and receive regular grants from some of America’s most prestigious research foundations. In the past, these medical professionals have earned support from the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institutes of Health. These faculty members currently support approximately 350 students in the school’s BS-MD program. All students complete a vigorous and carefully planned curriculum, which leaves very little additional space for electives. The school uses its small size and consistent class load to promote and support a dedicated and close-knit community of medical professionals.

• Cloud Storage, Peter Killcommons April, 2011 by Peter Killcommons The large data files used by imaging centers and radiologists monopolize a huge amount of bandwidth and server space. In order to store these datasets in a viable and easily accessible manner, most medical facilities utilize an ever-increasing number of servers. Unfortunately, the conventional storage option requires constant updates and expanded capacity. In addition, servers take up space, and radiology departments and imaging centers alike often possess limited floor space and small server rooms. For such organizations, cloud storage provides an excellent alternative to traditional server storage. By transferring images to cloud storage and retrieving them only when necessary, an organization frees up significant storage space for records which, for compliance or other reasons, must be maintained on-site. A key advantage of cloud storage lies in the security and redundancy it offers, as well as the economic benefits, including less of a need for IT staff employed to simply monitor servers used for storage purposes. Some companies turn over their cloud storage maintenance and troubleshooting to an off-site company, which generally costs less than hiring employees. The firms also gain a wider breadth of experience and expertise because the client has to use many employees rather than just one or two in-house people. In addition, because most cloud storage options include upgrades to their software as a component of their monthly or yearly usage fees, organizations cut down the cost of upgrading their own software. The savings provides for more budget leeway, allowing for capital expenditures in other areas of the company. Since the cloud provider generally performs its own upgrades without any downtime for the client, the company sees no interruption in business. In addition, because cloud networks allow sharing between facilities, many redundant tests that might have previously been performed on patients who visited multiple centers may be eliminated. Streamlining medicine in this way makes it more efficient for patients and physicians alike.

• About the South Beach Yacht Club By Dr. Peter Killcommons , Peter Killcommons' Blog on Bigsight July, 2011 In addition to my duties as the CEO of Medweb, a leader in the delivery of medical technology solutions via the web, I belong to a number of organizations that reflect my personal and professional interests. Among these organizations stands the South Beach Yacht Club, located in San Francisco’s fast-paced, exciting South Beach sector. With more than 500 members, the South Beach Yacht Club holds renown as San Francisco’s second largest club. The South Beach Yacht Club hosts a number of events that draw the attention and participation of sailing and yachting professionals and hobbyists, such as a racing program in which approximately 50 boats participate every summer. Catering to new and veteran yachters, the South Beach Yacht Club conducts events for enthusiasts, including a five-week junior sailing program. The South Beach Yacht Club’s headquarters sits in the midst of numerous attractions and San Francisco hotspots. Nearby, baseball fans can enjoy a ballgame at the AT&T stadium, home of the 2010 World Champions the San Francisco Giants. Most of the South Beach Yacht Club’s races culminate at the McCovey Cove, a slice of the San Francisco Bay located just beyond AT&T Park’s right field wall. Game days see members of the South Beach Yacht Club, as well as other sailors, take to McCovey Cove’s waters in the hopes of catching homerun balls. McCovey Cove Posted by Sekimura Members of the South Beach Yacht Club can enjoy the relaxing environment of the organization’s clubhouse, located on the second floor of the South Beach Harbor building. Prospective members are invited to visit the clubhouse to learn more about South Beach Yacht Club or to visit the organization online at www.southbeachyc.org. — About Dr. Peter Killcommons: Dr. Peter Killcommons founded Medweb in 1992. Currently, he presides over the company, taking particular interest in its radiology, telemedicine, and disaster response units. Dr. Peter Killcommons also oversees Medweb’s Philanthropy Program.

• A Brief Introduction to the Long History of Underwater Diving , Peter Killcommons' October, 2011 Herodotus, the “Father of History,” writing in 500 BC, tells the tale of Scyllis, a Greek sculptor who, using a hollow reed as a primitive breathing apparatus, swam undetected beneath attacking warships, ultimately devising a way of thwarting the enemy’s naval strategy. Archaeological evidence suggests that underwater breathing devices may have existed even earlier. In any case, the human pursuit of underwater breathing dates back to early in recorded history. Ancient artifacts have yielded evidence that underwater breathing posted at technologymyteklife.com Mastery of the sea has played a significant role in the social, economic, and cultural growth of many nations. The ability to remain underwater for extended periods offers a number of benefits in terms of construction, resource gathering, and exploration. In the 16th century, a number of valuable technological advancements allowed divers to reach greater depths for longer times than previously possible. One such invention was the diving bell. This system consists of a bell-shaped vessel that when submerged, traps breathable, pressurized air within its chamber, allowing divers a safe haven during exploration in an underwater environment. The 16th century also saw the first surface-supplied diving suits. By the early 19th century, diving suits had achieved a level of technological refinement that allowed divers to remain below the surface for longer still, at depths in excess of 60 feet. The trouble with these diving suits was their weight. In order to withstand the pressure levels underwater, diving suits were constructed from heavy leather and metal, greatly diminishing diver mobility. Modern breakthroughs in materials combined with greater scientific understanding of the effects of high pressure on the human body led to another leap forward. The term SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) came into use during World War II to describe the breathing system used by United States amphibious soldiers. The scuba system utilizes a breathing apparatus connected to a personal, portable breathing tank, allowing divers full mobility without heavy reliance on surface vessels. With the help of professionals like Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan, underwater diving became a popular recreational activity. Today, through the use of mixed gas rebreathers, compensatory eyewear, underwater photography, and surface communication devices, underwater diving has reached a wide audience of professionals and enthusiasts alike. About the Author: Dr. Peter Killcommons is the founder and CEO of Medweb, a telemedicine and medical imaging company. Mr. Killcommons enjoys scuba diving in his spare time.

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